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The shelf above the microwave in my kitchen was once filled with honey, tea bags, peanut butter, and other yummy odds and ends. Today that shelf holds bottles of sodium bicarbonate tablets, amino fuel, Pet-Tab Plus, Pet-Cal, ester C, Centrum, and cranberry extract tablets. None of this is for me; it is all for Hank, my six-year old tri-colored rescue basenji. In late January 2002, Hank was diagnosed with Fanconi Syndrome. His monthly strip test revealed he was spilling sugar in his urine. The diagnosis was confirmed within 24 hours by the results of a venous blood gas test. By the end of that day I had amassed the first batch of the supplements he would be taking for the rest of his life. I hand delivered a copy of Dr. Steve Gonto’s protocol for treating Fanconi Syndrome to my veterinarian. (A few months ago a new revised version became available.) I could handle this; I was determined. Hank would be with me well into his teens – at least 10 more years. Two days later, as more test results arrived, I learned that in addition to having Fanconi Syndrome, he also had renal insufficiency – a condition that calls for a feeding protocol that differs from the standard Fanconi protocol. Fortunately, Dr. Gonto addresses this issue in his “hybrid protocol.” The daily routine started. The problem was getting him to eat and finding ways to hide his many pills—10 in the morning, 3 midday, 2 at dinner, and 3 more late at night. If you are going have a dog with Fanconi Syndrome, wish for a dog who is a hearty eater. Hank would typically eat as if everything offered concealed some sort of toxic waste. I joined an online support group—fanconidogs-l. Two weeks after diagnosis and after learning of the renal insufficiency, I wrote to the group: Sometimes I feel heartened and your notes help me to think things will level out and become less complex. But, then, he might not eat every single bite of his food and I sort of panic internally, or he takes a nap and I worry that he won't wake up. It is irrational, I know, but it is hard. I love him so much. For a while there I just hoped his PRA (progressive retinal atrophy) wouldn't happen till he got old. Now I just hope he will get old.” Two hours later, I wrote again to the same group, “Now Hank is up running around, wagging his tail, dancing around with his ears back and he is resting his little chin on my leg...making me laugh. This is really hard.....” The emotional roller coaster would continue for weeks and months. Fortunately, Hank seemed oblivious to my ups and downs. One way I deal with a problem is to dive headlong into it and immerse myself in information about the issue and Dr. Gonto patiently shared his knowledge and wisdom; I listened and learned. The online support groups was invaluable. For the first year, most of my “spare time” was put into working with rehoming basenjis in need. I would evaluate and coordinate the placement of rescues. When I wrote up a profile of a basenji, I began inserting information about the strip test that had enabled me to catch Hank’s Fanconi Syndrome early and invited people to contact me if they wanted more information. Many wrote. In fact, so many wrote that I developed a template I could send them. Then people started writing for information specific to their own basenji’s situation. People are hungry for information and it helped me to be part of helping them. I began outreach to rescuers and breeders around the country for their help in finding veterinary clinics with the equipment needed to do the venous blood gas tests that are core to diagnosing the condition and determining the appropriate supplement dosages– finding this equipment can be difficult. In 2003, basenji lovers were invited to submit pictures of their basenjis anonymously for possible inclusion in a fundraising calendar. Voting determined which ones were to be used in the calendar. A picture of Hank lure coursing was one of those selected for inclusion. It helped me remember he could do the things he loved despite the Fanconi Syndrome, and I hoped that others who saw the picture were heartened. I made sure they understood he had the condition—“Look at my Fanconi boy lure coursing.” Still, feeding him was an issue. For a teary 10-day period he would run and hide from me when he recognized I was getting his medicines out of the cupboard. I couldn’t imagine doing this for another ten years. He would come to hate me, I was sure. Soon we entered a new phase; Hank seemed to have really settled down; he seemed to be calm. I concluded that, at long last, Hank was maturing and was no longer going to be the little mischief-maker he had been for so long. Then, one day, I sensed I was not reading the signals correctly. Hank was not feeling well. It was a urinary tract infection. (We had been through something similar right after he was diagnosed, but it was a minor event). Antibiotics were started and the changes were apparent within 24 hours. The first round of antibiotics helped tremendously, but things weren’t quite right, yet. Clavamox was prescribed for another ten days. My, oh my--Katie, bar the door! My boy was back and firing on all pistons. He is irrepressible; he is running on two speeds—full-steam ahead and snooze. He is into everything; it is never boring around here and we love it! He had obviously had a long-standing infection that we had finally licked. Recognizing these urinary tract infections is a bit tricky with Fanconi-affected dogs. Often, the presence of an infection is difficult to catch for a variety of reasons---the urine is so diluted and the kidneys of the dog with Fanconi can seal off or “loculate” the invading organism(s) and make it difficult to detect. Being aware of changes in your basenji’s behavior and having a veterinarian who will just trust you and treat for an infection is key to dealing with this. Some folks have found they can keep these infections from recurring by putting their dog on a schedule of antibiotics regardless of signs the dog is showing. At last, we are in a groove. The decision was made to start Hank on special food for dogs with kidney failure. This started me on a whole new mission—learn about these foods and how they work. I have found a food he likes—now I need to watch his weight; he is gobbling up his pills; his muscle tone is looking better every day, and he is a playing fool. For the time being, his blood chemistry appears stabilized and the blood values associated with the renal insufficiency are just slightly above normal. I am counting on celebrating Hank’s 15th birthday in about ten years, but in the meantime, I will keep on learning and sharing and talking about Fanconi Syndrome, and the importance of strip testing*, and telling stories about my “Hankster Prankster.” *George Woodard has provided us with the best web site on strip testing. Article copyright © 2004 by Cheryl Silver. |